Pumpkins
are carved into Jack O'Lanterns for Halloween. How did the pumpkin become
associated with Halloween?
Well the
answer is in the tale of an unfortunate soul named Jack. According
to Irish folklore a man named Jack, well known for his drunkenness and
quick temper, got very drunk at a local pub on All Hallows Eve. As his
life began to slip away, the Devil appeared to claim Jack's soul. Jack,
eager to stay alive, begged the Devil to let him have just one more drink
before he died. The Devil agreed. Jack was short of money and asked the
Devil if he wouldn't mind assuming the shape of a sixpence so Jack could
pay for the drink and after the transaction the Devil could change back.
The Devil agreed again to help Jack out and changed himself into a sixpence.
Jack immediately grabbed the coin and shoved it into his wallet, which
just happened to have a cross-shaped catch on it. The Devil, now imprisoned
in the wallet, screamed with rage and ordered Jack to release him.
Jack agreed to free the Devil from his wallet if the Devil agreed not to
bother Jack for a whole year. Again, the Devil agreed to Jack's terms.
Realizing he now had a new lease on life, at least for a year, Jack decided
to mend his ways. For a time Jack was good to his wife and children and
began to attend church and give charity. Eventually Jack slipped back into
his evil ways. The next All Hallows Eve as Jack was heading home,
the Devil appeared and demanded that Jack accompany him. Once again Jack,
not too eager to die, distracted the devil by pointing to a nearby apple
tree. Jack convinced the Devil to get an apple out of the tree and even
offered to hoist the Devil up on his shoulders to help him get the apple.
The Devil, fooled once again by Jack, climbed into the tree and plucked
an apple. Jack took out a knife and carved a cross into the trunk of the
tree. Trapped once again the Devil howled to be released and told Jack
he would give him 10 years of peace in exchange for his release. Jack,
on the other hand, insisted the Devil never bother him again. The Devil
agreed and was released. Almost a year later Jack's body, unable
to keep up with Jack's evil ways, gave out and Jack died. When Jack tried
to enter Heaven he was told that because of his meanness he would not be
allowed into Heaven. When Jack attempted to gain entry into Hell, the Devil,
still smarting from years of humiliation refused Jack admission. However,
the Devil threw Jack a piece of coal to help him find his way in the dark
of limbo. Jack put the piece of coal into a turnip and it became known
as a Jack O'Lantern. On All Hallows Eve, if you look, you can still see
Jack's flame burning dimly as he searches for a home.
The use
of Jack O'Lanterns as festival lights for Halloween is a custom that descended
from the Irish who used carved out turnips or beets as lanterns. On Halloween,
these lights represented the souls of the dead or goblins freed from the
dead. When the Irish emigrated to America, they could not find many turnips
to carve into Jack O'Lanterns but they did find an abundance of pumpkins.
Pumpkins seemed to be a suitable substitute for the turnips and pumpkins
have been an essential part of Halloween celebrations ever since.